Foreign Babes in Beijing: Behind the Scenes of a New China

I loved this book. It was the perfect cure for the book hangover I had when I begged a group of friends for recommendations.

Even though the author's experience takes place about 20 years prior to my own, her descriptions are SO relatable - even though she was in China and I'm in South Korea. Of course the political scene is quite different, but that's only touched on a few times in the book (mostly over the bombing of the Chinese embassy). She's honest and entertaining.

“The meeting reminded me that I was not qualified to do anything other than write academic essays.” (the author, after she graduates with a B.A. in English) Yep. Been there done that. Oops, what did I do with 4 years of my life?!?

This, along with so many of her feelings as a foreigner trying to make her way in a new country. Also her descriptions of trying to be sexy for a Chinese audience. Priceless.